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To What Extent Does A Predominantly White High School Impact Black Girl\u27s Experiences And Self-Perception?
No full textThis research is about how attending a predominantly white high school impacts young black girls\u27 experiences and self-perceptions. This is important to address because of the harsh beauty standards put on girls in general because of society. These standards are especially hard to achieve for black girls. More specifically, black women are very understudied in research, so by honing in on a particular minority my research helps fill that gap in the field. To find the impact I developed a questionnaire that sought to analyze the participant\u27s self-perceptions. The results of this found that my participants had high self-confidence and cared about their appearance. Furthermore, my research was conducted by first reaching out to participants who fit the needed criteria. Participants were found by word of mouth and personal connections. After I found willing applicants they completed one-on-one interviews. The results of the emerged 4 themes; Identity, belonging, isolation; Racism, microaggressions, stereotypes; White beauty standards and lack of representation; Relationships and friendships
Role of Stiffness Markers in Astrocytes in Glaucoma Pathology
No full textGlaucoma is a disease that increases pressure within the eye which applies stress to the optic nerve, leading to blindness. Most research has focused on different cells in the optic nerve, but this research focuses on a glial cell called astrocytes, which stabilizes cell connection, maintains the eye’s immune status, and maintains nutrient levels. Previous research has shown that stiffness around the optic nerve can be indicated by proteins which get upregulated. This research focuses on these proteins (Fibronectin, Collagen IV, ɑ-Smooth Muscle Actin) in an astrocyte, therefore, this project focuses on trying to understand the role of these stiffness markers. It was hypothesized that the levels of these proteins will change in response to glaucoma injury. This was tested by culturing astrocytes from a human cadaver’s optic nerve for 3-5 days in Astrocyte Growth Media. Once the cells reached 90% confluency, they were placed into separate chamber slides, then starved with serum-less DMEM. Half of the slides were placed into hypoxic conditions while the rest underwent normal conditions. These cells were then observed under a microscope at 4h, 16h, and 24h. Immunocytochemistry was then done on these cells for the three markers. The preliminary results indicate that healthy astrocytes do express all three markers, indicating potential for glaucomatous studies. Unfortunately, astrocytes could not survive hypoxic conditions as they died even in 4 hours. These preliminary studies enhance our understanding of stiffness markers that may play a role in glaucoma as compared to healthy astrocytes
The Effect of Carica papaya Peels and Mānuka Honey to Create a Sustainable Liquid Fertilizer for Rapid Cycling Brassica rapa
No full textSynthetic fertilizers are recognized for their negative impact on soil health, yet their affordability leads to widespread use, adversely affecting plant vitality. Mānuka honey is well-known for its medicinal properties; however, there are few studies on mānuka honey\u27s impact on plant development. Along with this, Carica papaya is known for its vitamin content, specifically in the peel, which contains essential nutrients for plant growth.This study focused on the synergistic potential of combining mānuka honey and Carica papaya peels to formulate an organic fertilizer that surpasses synthetic alternatives in efficacy. It was hypothesized that a mixture of mānuka honey and Carica papaya peels (mL) would enhance the growth of Brassica rapa (cm) more effectively than standard chemical fertilizers. A total of five groups, including a control, were established, with thirty Brassica rapa seeds planted in each. Carica papaya fertilizers were prepared ahead of time by crushing peels with a mortar and pestle and were refrigerated. Mānuka honey was stirred with water in a separate flask, and a third flask was used to mix mānuka and Carica papaya. Miracle-Gro was the synthetic fertilizer used. The two-way ANOVA revealed that fertilizer was the most important factor impacting Brassica rapa development, with a p-value of \u3c0.001. The one-way ANOVA demonstrated this as well, with a p-value of 0.016. Adding mānuka and Carica papaya peels did not promote Brassica rapa development, resulting in a lower height mean of 0.2400 compared to the highest, the control, which was 0.7400. Consequently, the hypothesis was partially supported
The Effectiveness of Using YOLO11 Real-Time Object Detection to Determine Holding Penalties in Football
No full textThis study used the YOLO11 computer vision model to detect holding penalties in images of people bocking in football games. This study aimed to determine if a computer vision model can accurately detect holding penalties in football games. It was hypothesized that the YOLO11 model would determine the difference between a holding and blocking penalty with an 85% accuracy. For the study, the model was trained on 200 images, 100 holding penalties, and 100 regular blocking during football games. Then, 50 images, 25 holding, and 25 blocking, were tested with the model to determine whether the algorithm could detect when a holding penalty occurred and when it didn’t. The test found that the model achieved an accuracy of 74% with 37 images being correctly detected as either holding or blocking and 13 being incorrectly detected. The hypothesis was not supported as the model did not accurately detect holding or blocking 85% of the time. In comparison to previous studies, the model was less accurate. The model is not viable for NFL usage as NFL referees are accurate on 98.9% of calls. For future research, the model could be improved by increasing accuracy. Different penalties could also be tested in future studies
Water Recirculation and a Fish Shelter\u27s Effect on Water\u27s Dissolved Oxygen Levels Exposed to Extreme Heat with Low Oxygen Levels
No full textFish shelters exist in many lakes, they are created to protect smaller fish from their predators. Many fish are found to reside in them during summer months to avoid extreme temperatures. During summer months, higher temperatures reduce the solubility of oxygen in water. The purpose of this research was to improve the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in water with a water pump and fish shelter, for water recirculation and a decrease in temperature. This research aimed to decrease the temperature change and increase the DO levels when a heat lamp was used to simulate heat rays from the sun. The fish shelter was created with plywood and formed into a box. Fish were purchased from PetSmart and isolated in beakers one week before testing. The tests were performed by leaving the heat lamp on for six hours and heating a ten-gallon fish tank that contained water. The temperature and DO levels were recorded. The process was repeated for two days with the fish shelter and water pump inside the tank. The fish were introduced to the fish shelter and pump, and their changes in behavior were recorded. The temperature decreased from 92 degrees to 87 with the fish shelter, and 84 with the water pump. The DO levels increased from 4.5 ppm to 6 with the shelter and 8.5 with the pump. The temperature decreased and the DO levels increased with the addition of the fish shelter and the change was greater with the water pump
Utilizing an Arm Wearable Vibroacoustic Therapy Device at Low Frequencies to Reduce Acute Stress
No full textStress is a universal challenge, with acute stress negatively impacting mental and physical health when encountered too often. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a portable vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) device in reducing acute stress levels in high school students using low-frequency sound vibrations to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. It was hypothesized that the VAT device, programmed to emit 4, 6, and 8 Hz (theta to alpha) vibrations consecutively, would significantly reduce stress levels measured via a smartphone plethysmography application. Fifteen participants aged 16–17, identified as having high academic stress, participated in three conditions: no VAT treatment (control), 60-second VAT treatment, and 120-second VAT treatment. Stress levels were measured before and after each condition. A One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in stress levels across conditions (F(2,28) = 3.40, p = 0.0475) Post hoc Bonferroni-corrected analyses showed trends toward significance for reductions in stress from control to the 60-second (p = 0.06) and 120-second (p = 0.12) treatments, though neither comparison remained statistically significant after correction. Descriptive statistics indicated an approximate 10% mean reduction in stress, with levels decreasing from 81.2% (control) to 73.7% (60 seconds) and 72.1% (120 seconds). These findings suggest that VAT may reduce acute stress. Variability in responses, VAT device limitations, and a limited frequency range highlight the need for further research to optimize this technology. This study demonstrates the potential of portable VAT as an accessible, non-invasive intervention for stress management
Evaluation of Racket Head Weight Augmentation Through Lead Tape Application on Accuracy in Tennis First-Serve Performance
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine if adding weight to the head of a tennis racket affects first-serve accuracy. It was hypothesized that the addition of weight to the head of the racket with lead tape would increase first-serve accuracy due to increased racket stability and a reduction in the effects of off-center hits. To test this hypothesis, an experimental design was employed using a Yonex EZONE 98 tennis racket with varying amounts of lead tape applied to the racket head (0g, 6g, 12g, and 18g). Fifty serves were executed for each weight condition, divided between the deuce and ad sides of the court, at the Spring Valley High School tennis courts under controlled environmental conditions. The accuracy was recorded and analyzed using a camera on the receiving side of the court. A chi-square test of independence was used to evaluate the influence of racket head weight on serve accuracy. The results showed that there was no significant relationship between racket weight and serve accuracy, χ² (3, N = 200) = 4.32, p = 0.228, with an effect size (Cramér\u27s V) of 0.11. While trends show that serve accuracy peaked at 66% with 6g of weight, it decreases for heavier weights, reaching 48% at 18g. These results indicate that the weight of the racket head does not significantly affect first-serve accuracy within the conditions tested. This study demonstrates the complexity of tennis performance and tests the idea that increasing racket inertia uniformly benefits all aspects of serve performance
The Effect of Heel-to-Toe Drop in Running Shoes on Tibial Stress During Forefoot Running
No full textDespite heel-to-toe height difference being an important factor in the running world, there seems to be very limited research on negative drop running shoes. These shoes are designed to mimic barefoot running, which research has shown can reduce injuries, including shin splints. This type of footwear also provides a possible solution to the increased loading rates that come with minimalist shoes that exist to mimic barefoot running through increasing cushioning. The purpose of this study was to determine whether heel drop in shoes had an effect on tibial stress during forefoot running and to establish whether negative heel drop shoes could reduce this stress. Thus, it was hypothesized that the treatment with a -9 mm heel drop would result in the least tibial bending which reflects the least tibial stress. Midsoles were made using neoprene glued in layers into various heel-to-toe drops (HTDs). Markers were placed on the shin and were tracked using a motion capture machine that finds the positions of each marker in a xyz plane over time. This data was then used to find the angle difference from 180 degrees when the foot hit the ground (using a forefoot strike) using the various midsoles. F(4,150) = 1.32231, SD = 7.6551, p \u3e 0.05. Therefore, it was concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that HTD affects force on the shins during forefoot running
The Effect of St. John’s Wort Solution on Climbing Activity Reflecting Depressive-Like Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster to Model Seasonal Depression in Low Sunlight Exposure
No full textAlthough depression is a known substantial threat to public health, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is under-researched. SAD refers to recurrent seasonal patterns of depression. This depressive disorder has few accepted treatments. The purpose of this study was to test whether St. John’s Wort (SJW), a natural supplement with researched antidepressant properties, could be a cheaper alternative with fewer limitations for treating SAD. SJW’s efficacy as a seasonal depression inhibitor was tested through a Drosophila depression-like model using climbing activity to reflect depressive behavior. It was hypothesized that as the concentration of SJW solution increases, the climbing activity of stressed Drosophila melanogaster enclosed in low sunlight exposure would increase to reach the same levels as the climbing activity of non-stressed Drosophila melanogaster, due to SJW’s ability to inhibit serotonin reuptake. The depression-like model was generated through a vibration treatment consisting of unpredictable durations of vibration. A diluted solution of SJW was made using a human-to-fruit fly ratio regarding mass and required dose. Climbing activity was measured by counting how many fruit flies passed the 100 mL mark in a graduated cylinder under one minute. Due to the high mortality rate of the fruit flies, few results were recorded. It is inferred that potential errors include difficulties with method application, specifically, handling the transfer of live organisms. Nonetheless, if this topic were researched again, then successful manipulation of the Drosophila melanogaster could result in significant data. That would expand the possibilities of treatment for this undertreated depressive disorder
A Embracing the No Place: Necropolitics, Queerness, and Self Discovery in The Awakening
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